Chapter 0187

Chapter 187: The Mountain Ghost Who Spoils Zhou Tong Without Limits

Xuan Shu Yu’s eyes went wide as she cried out: “You… you dare insult me?” She still did not know her place. Because she had the Holy Body and a bright future, she viewed herself as a rare treasure. Everyone should flatter her and please her. Even Zhou Tong, who had hated her, should put the great Dao first and give up his grudge. Dual cultivating with her would bring huge benefits: the Holy Source could greatly raise the chance of entering sainthood. She did not believe Zhou Tong could resist.

She looked down her nose and said: “Zhou Tong, I admit you are strong. You are fit for me now. But your attitude displeases me. If I had stood with Tang Qi earlier, who knows who would have won today.” Then she warned him: “Think it through. Do not throw away a great chance to chase the Dao because of an old grudge. It helps both of us.”

Zhou Tong’s face twitched. He did not know what words to use for the person in front of him. Mo Liu Su and her disciples were almost never normal. Some were arrogant, some low and shameless, some narcissistic, some foolish, some sly. Xuan Shu Yu alone held all of these.

Zhou Tong spoke in a calm voice: “I was wrong.”

Chen Ling’er’s eyes grew round. Xuan Shu Yu smiled with pride and said: “Good. You finally understand—”

Zhou Tong cut her off and finished his thought: “I was wrong to show you a good face for so long. I should not have let you live until now. I am going to correct that mistake.”

“You dare!” Xuan Shu Yu’s face changed. Golden light flooded her body. She looked firm as a wall, unbreakable.

There was a wet pop as Zhou Tong’s palm slid straight through her chest and crushed her organs.

He flicked a cold glance down at her and said: “Be buried here, filthy thing.”

Xuan Shu Yu stared in disbelief as she fell stiffly to the ground and gasped: “You… you actually killed me?”

Zhou Tong shook the blood from his hand as if he had pulled a weed by the roadside. Without looking back, he turned and walked the other way.

Chen Ling’er watched his back rush into the dark and called after him in panic: “Junior brother, junior brother… where are you going? Do not ignore me!” She could not keep up. She could only watch him vanish and then cry in silence. Kneeling, shaking all over, she whispered through tears: “Is this how you punish me… You can hit me or scold me, just do not ignore me.”

A weak voice sounded behind her: “Senior sister… save me!”

Chen Ling’er swung around and snapped, turning all blame on Xuan Shu Yu as she shouted: “This is your fault for making junior brother angry. If you had not ruined his good mood, he would not be ignoring me!” As for saving her, that was a fantasy. She would let Xuan Shu Yu die here. One less rival.

But she was thinking too much. In Zhou Tong’s eyes, these two were as different as a bird and a beast. Even if all the women in the world were gone, he would never cross species to love her.

A soft light fell from above, and a lively, graceful figure dropped into view. Hope returned to Xuan Shu Yu’s eyes as she called out: “Mountain Ghost sister, we meet again. Please save me!”

The newcomer smiled with bright, playful eyes and said: “Oh my, two little poor things again. Such good luck today.” But behind that playfulness, fury burned like a storm. She was angry. Through Xuan Shu Yu’s memories, she had seen how both women had tormented her king. That could not be forgiven.

When Zhou Tong wandered into Desolate Mountain at the age of four, he became the king of her people. From then on, the Mountain Ghost served as his teacher and foster mother. In her eyes, Zhou Tong was both monarch and child. No minister wants their monarch insulted. No mother allows her child to be bullied. These two had crossed the Mountain Ghost’s line. They must be punished.

She looked first at Xuan Shu Yu and kept her playful tone, saying: “Little poor thing, you are finished. Sister is so sad, boo-hoo.”

Xuan Shu Yu pleaded as her limbs went cold and her life slipped away: “Mountain Ghost sister, save me one more time. I will do anything.”

The Mountain Ghost answered softly: “But you have no value now. You know that to fulfill a wish, you must pay a price.”

Xuan Shu Yu grasped at straws and said: “I do… I still have dignity, and beauty…”

The Mountain Ghost replied in a flat voice that held no scorn, yet it cut to the bone: “Those are worthless.”

Xuan Shu Yu’s lips trembled before she forced out: “Wait… I still have my freedom. If you save me, I will do whatever you say.”

The Mountain Ghost tilted her head, then smiled and said: “Hmm. That is good. I accept. From today on, you are sister’s little dog.” She waved her hand, and Xuan Shu Yu’s wound knit closed.

Xuan Shu Yu sprang up and laughed madly: “I am healed. I am really healed. Heaven helps me!” She turned on Chen Ling’er with bitter hate and snarled: “You wanted to watch me die? You fool!” She tore off her fake politeness and lunged with a punch.

“Kneel, puppy,” the Mountain Ghost said.

With a thud, Xuan Shu Yu was forced down to her knees.

Terror filled Xuan Shu Yu’s face as she cried: “W-what is happening?”

The Mountain Ghost explained in an even tone: “You still do not understand. You pawned your freedom to me. Now you are my puppet. I have absolute control over your actions.”

Sweat poured down Xuan Shu Yu’s back. She had thought it was only a promise in words and that she could still keep herself. She had never guessed the Mountain Ghost’s rule was so absolute.

“Spin in circles,” the Mountain Ghost said next.

Xuan Shu Yu could only drop to all fours and spin like a dog.

She burst into sobs: “No! I do not want this! You cannot do this to me!” Everything she had been proud of shattered. What did being a Holy Body matter? She could only act as someone’s dog. From now on, she had no right to be proud. For a narcissist, this was the worst punishment. The Mountain Ghost did not like to harm flesh. She punished the heart.

The Mountain Ghost clicked her tongue and waved her off, saying: “Tsk, tsk. Good dog. Go play. Do not get in the way.”

“Woof,” Xuan Shu Yu barked against her will and crawled away.

Chen Ling’er stared, stunned. Then her body went tight as the Mountain Ghost’s gaze turned to her.

The Mountain Ghost smiled like spring and said: “A brand-new little poor thing. Your strength is too low. You cannot live here. Sister can help you make a wish. Of course, you must pay a price.”

Ice raced through Chen Ling’er’s veins as fear swallowed her. She stammered: “I… I have no wish!”

The Mountain Ghost’s smile deepened. The ground split open, and a huge beast lunged straight at Chen Ling’er. No wish? Then create one.